Combined ash-box and dust-pan.



Patented Jan. 30, I900. w. s. ANDERSON.

COMBINED ASH BOX AND DUST PAN.

[Application filed Oct. 4, 1899.1

(No Model.)

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NlTED STATES PATENT FFICE.

TVILLIAM S. ANDERSON, OF JASPER, TENNESSEE.-

COMBINED ASH-BOX AND DUST-PAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent- No. 642,412, dated January 30, 1900.

Application tiled October 4, 1899.

T0 (oZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. ANDERSON, of Jasper, in the couutyof Marion and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and Improved Oombined Ash-Box and Dust-Pan, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in devices which may be used as dust-pans and as shovels for taking up and carrying away ashes out of open fireplaces and from under grates, and has for its object a device of this character which may be easily handled and which will operate in an efficient manner.

My invention presents certain novel featu res which will be hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view of my device in its open position. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the device closed, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation thereof.

The box portion of my device is of a quadrant cross-section, the end pieces A being shaped as a quadrant and one side A being curved as a quadrant of a cylinder. Although this form for the box is a preferred one, it is not in any way essential to the proper operation of my device, as the box A may be of other shapes than that shown.

The side B is hinged at D to the bottom A of the box at a point which is slightly inside of the edge of the bottom in order that ashes and dirt may not sift through the hinge and fall upon the floor after they have been placed in the box, and said side is bent at B midway of its front and rear edges. This side of the box is provided with inturned flanges b at its side edges, said flanges being preferably formed integral with the side of the This side of the box is of such a length that the flanges I) pass inside the box when the hinged side is swung upwardly to close the box, and when the hinged side is down the ends of the flanges are still within the sides of the box, thus preventing the possibility of ashes and dirt escaping at this point.

Within the box is mounted a shaft E, provided with two cranks, the crank E being a double crank and placed inside the box, while the crank E forms an operating-handle $erial No. 732,542. (No model.)

and is located outside the box. The crank E is connected with the hinged side B by means of a link 0, which directly engages a staple O, secured to the hinged side B. By means of the crank E which is outside the box, the hinged side or shovel may be swung downward into the position shown in Fig. 1 or swung upward to close the box. Handles F are provided, one at each end of the box, by which the box may be held while being tilled. The handle F, which is upon that end of the box adjacent the crank E is so placed as to form a stop for said crank, to thus limit the downward swing of the hinged side B. The relative normal position of the two cranks E and E is such that when the crank E is in engagement with the handle F the crank E and link 0 are a little short of being in a straight line, so that they will ofier no resistance to the closing of the hinged side B when the power for closing is applied either to the box or to the hinged side. It is thus possible to take hold of the hinged side or shovel B and lift it up to the closed position or to swing the box itself downward over the hinged side.

A handle F is located upon the upper side of the box, by which the box may be conveniently carried when desired. A handle F is also provided, located near the bottom of the box and upon the back side thereof, by which the box may be conveniently tilted when it is desired to discharge it of its contents. All of these handles are herein shown as being formed of a piece of flat bar-iron which is riveted to the body of the box. To protect the hands of the operator against the heat of hot ashes 0r coals which may have been put in the box, these handles are covered with thin strips of Wood f and f Upon that end of the box next to the operating-crank E is secured a strip G, which is provided with a notch g, adapted to engage and lock the crank-arm E The shaft E is preferably constructed of a round rod, but the crank-arm E is flattened, so that it may act as a spring to fall into and be drawn out of the notch g. In order to hold the box at a slight distance above the floor and prevent the burning of the carpet or scorching of the floor when hot ashes or coals are placed in the box, small legs or feet a are provided beneath the box.

In using my device the hinged side B is swung downward by means of the crank E and allowed to rest upon the floor or hearth in a convenient position to receive ashes or dirt which is to be taken up. These are then either swept upon the hinged side B or the entire device is forced forward, so that the hinged side B may act as a shovel to take up the same. When the ashes or dirt has been placed upon the'hinged side 13, the body of the box is swung forward over the hinged side until it has been covered. This causes the spring-operating crank E to drop into the notch g, so that the hinged side is located in position. The box may then be turned up to a normal position and removed. The contents being in an inclosed box will not fly about the room and cause everything to become covered with a thin layer of the same, nor can they escape while being carried through open doors, halls, stairways, and yards, and there is no danger of fire from dropping live coals and from flying sparks.

In taking up ashes from open fireplaces and from under grates with my device not only are time, labor, and discomfort saved, but the resulting disturbance of the ashes and dust is reduced to a minimum. This is still further reduced by swinging the box over and covering up the shovel.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A combined ash-box and shovel, consisting of a box having one side hinged thereto to drop downward and adapted to act as a shovel or dust-pan, a shaft mounted in the box and having a crank within the box, and an operating-crank and a link connecting the first-named crank with the hinged section, substantially as described.

2. A combined ash-box and shovel, consisting of a box having one side hinged thereto to drop downward and adapted to act as a shovel, the side edges of the said side having integral inturned flanges, a shaft mounted in the box and having a crank within the box, and an operating-crank outside the box and a link connecting the first-named crank with the hinged section, substantially as described.

3. A combined ash-box and shovel, comprising a box in cross-section a quadrant, one of the fiat sides being hinged at the center of the quadrant and adapted to swing outward and down to form a shovel, a crank arm mounted upon the box, and operatively connected with the hinged side, substantially as described, and an operating-crank for turning said shaft.

at. An ash-box and shovel, comprising a box having one side hinged thereto to drop downward and adapted to act as a shovel, a shaft mounted in the box and having a crank, a link connecting said crank with the hinged side, a cranked operating handle on said shaft, and a stop for said handle, the said stop engaging with said handle, when the link and crank to which it is connected are slightly out of longitudinal alinement and stand at obtuse angles to each other, whereby they will offer no resistance at their point of connection to the closing of the box when the power is applied to the side to close it, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A combined ash-box and shovel, comprising a box having feet beheath it raising it a slight distance above the floor, one side of said box being hinged to swing downward and out to form a shovel, said side having inturned flanges upon its side edges and being bent intermediateits ends, whereby the outer section will rest fiat upon the floor, a crankarm mounted upon the box, a link connecting the crank with the hinged side, and a crank on the shaft for turning it, substantially as described.

6. A combined ash-box and shovel, comprising a box having one side hinged thereto to drop downward, a shaft mounted upon.the box and having two cranks, one within and the other outside the box, a link connecting the inner crank with the hinged side, and means for engaging the outer crank whereby to hold said side closed, as set forth.

7. A combined ash-box and shovel, comprising a box having feet beneath it to raise it a slight distance above the floor, one side of the said box being hinged to swing downward and outward to form a shovel, said side having inturned flanges upon its side edges and being bentintermediate its ends, whereby the outer section thereof will rest flat upon the floor, a shaft mounted in the box and having two cranks, a linkconnecting the hinged sect-ion with one crank, and a handle 011 the box adapted to engage the other or operatingcrank to limit the down ward swing of the said hinged section, substantially as described.

8. A combined ash-box and shovel, comprising a box having one side hinged thereto to drop downward and adapted to act as a shovel, a shaft mountedin the box and having two cranks, one within and the other outside the box, a link connecting the inner crank with the hinged section, a catch adapted to engage the outer crank to hold the hinged section or shovel in its closed position, and a handle on the box, adapted to act as a stop to engage the outer crank to limit the outward swing of the hinged section, substantially as described.

9. A combined ash-box and shovel, comprising a box having a hinged side arranged to drop downward, a shaft in said box and operatively connected with said hinged side to open and close the same, said shaft having a crank outside the box, and a notched plate on the box into which the crank is adapted to spring when the side is closed, as set forth.

WILLIAM S. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

R. L. KILLIAN, P. H. THACH.

IIO 

